Trap and separator for immiscible liquids



April 29, 1930. J. B. MACLEAN 1,756,859

' I TRAP'AND SEPARATOR FOR IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS- Filed Jan. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1930. Y J. B. MACLEAN 1,755,869

TRAP AND SEPARATOR FOR IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS I I Filed Jan. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1930 unrrso STATES JAMES BORROWMAN MACLEAN, or LONDON, ENGLAND TRAP AND SEPARATOR FOR IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS Application filed-January 28, 1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to traps and separators for immiscible liquids, such for in-' stance as oil and water, provided with a floatcontrolled valve designed to open when the float sinks in the lighter liquid and close when the float becomes immersed to a given extent in the heavier liquid.

In traps or separators for liquids of different densities, such for instance as devices employed for separating oil from sea or fresh water, the valve permitting the discharge of the lighter liquid from a point-adjacent to the top of the separator is usually operated by levers arranged external to the separator and this involves connections between the valve and float with which sturfing boxes are associated, an arrangement which has the disadvantage that the functioning of the device may be interfered with by the variation in compression of the packing material employed.

The invention consists broadly in a trap or separator for the purpose indicated in which adjacent to the top of the chamber to which the liquids to be separated are supplied is arranged a discharge outlet for the lighter liquid with which is associated a double-beat valve the stem of the moving element of which valve extends freely into the chamber and is associated with a lever located therein with which a float is connected and the weight of the float will be adjusted with respect to the other elements so as to ensure that the float will sink in the lighter liquid and will float when it is more or less surrounded by the heavier liquid.

For the purpose of balancing, an adjustable weight may be associated with the lever, being arranged, for instance, in association with the longer arm thereof and being mounted, for instance, in a bracket secured to the said arm.

The invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure '1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a plan illustrating the upper portion of an oil separator in accordance with the invention; while Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the up- 250,308, and in Great Britain March 26, 1927.

per portion of a trap or separator having a modified construction of valve.

In the drawings 1 indicatesthe chamber of the separator on the top plate 2 of which the body 3 of the valve is mounted. For the purpose of facilitatingaccess to the body of the valve the latter is provided with a cover 4. The outlet of the valve is indicated by the reference 5. This outlet is connected with the member 6 in the valve body in which are provided two seatings 7 and 'Fwith which cooperate respectively the movable elements 8 and 8 both of which are secured to a rod 9 passing through the inlet 10 to the valve body.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the lower end of the rod in question is arranged to slide in a guide 11 formed in a bracket 12 secured to the side wall of the separator and in the slot 13 in the rod is engaged one end of the lever 14 the fulcrum 15 of which is arranged in the bracket above referred to. The opposite end of the lever forms. a loop 16 in which is engaged the float 17 while in the construction illustrated in thisfignre an arm 18 extends from the lever on which a compensatingweight 19 is mounted.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 3 the lower end of the rod 9 engages one end of the lever 20 which is pivoted at 21 in the member 22 secured to the member 28 which forms a guide for the lower end of the valve spindle. One end of the lever is formed as a loop 24 in which the float 25 is engaged. This float is provided with a closure 26 arranged immediately below the cover plate 27 associated with clamping means 28 provided in the top plate of the separator and is arranged in this position to facilitate adjustment of the weight of the float by the introduction thereinto of sheet metal clippings or the like. The extreme end of the lever forms an extension 29 which engages between guides 30. The provision of these guides is desir-- able in separators for use on board ship for reducing the possibility of the functioning of the valve being disturbed by the motion of the ship.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A trap or separator for immiscible liquids, such for instance as oil and water, comprising a chamber to Which the liquids to be separated are supplied, a discharge passage for the lighter liquid adjacent to the top of the chamber, a double-beat valve including a body having valve seatings'therein associated with said discharge passage, a moving valve element in said body, a stem extending from said moving valve elements freely into the chamber, a lever in the chamber, a connection between the aforesaid stem and'thelever, and a float connected to said lever adapted to sink in the lighter liquid to open the valve and to rise in the heavier liquid and thereby close the valve. V

In testimony whereof I have signed my .11a1ne to this specification. 

